A limited special operation was provided on 14 December to recall the early days of the Red Arrow network in central London.
Two AEC Merlins — the London Transport Museum’s MBA582 and Roger Wright’s MBA539 — were joined by GLS490, one of the 1981 Leyland Nationals refurbished by East Lancs as Greenways to operate the routes between 1992 and the introduction of bendybuses in 2002.
The trio initially recreated pioneer Red Arrow route 500 (Victoria-Oxford Circus), which ran from 18 April 1966 until 12 August 1988, then ran over route 507 (Victoria-Waterloo). MBA582 carried invited guests, while the other two made several trips over route 507 until late afternoon.
Gareth Powell is TfL’s new surface transport MD
Gareth Powell, previously director of public transport and strategy, is Transport for London’s new managing director for surface transport, succeeding Leon Daniels who retired on 20 December after nearly seven years in post.
Powell joined TfL’s business improvement and performance division in 2003 from the Atkins consultancy and held roles in business planning and performance before moving to co-lead the reorganisation of many parts of TfL.
London’s transport commissioner, Mike Brown, says: ‘He will b…
